Life-saving device.



J, J. RBGTENWALD.

LIFE SAVING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 13. 1910.

Patented June 27, 1911.

3 SHBETS-BHEET l.

INVENTOR J. J. RBGTENWALD. LIFE SAVING DEVICE. APPLICATION IILED AUG. 13. 1910.

PatentedJune 27, 1911 s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I wn'msssss Jqm si-imfl 7 .j iiaiziqgg J. J. REGTENWALD. LIFE SAVING DEVICE.

- 11111101111011 FILED AUG. 13. 1910.

.Patenteii June 27, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wrrmassss E INVENTOR a citizen of the UNITED STATES PA ENT OFF GEE,

LIFE-SAVIN G DEVICE,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. RECTENWALD,

residing at Mount Oliver borough, in the county. of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to life saving devices especially designed for bi -planes, mono-planes, gliders and other types of air craft, and'the invention has for its primary object to provide a machine ofithe above type with positive and reliable means for maintaining the same afloat should it alight in a river, lake or other body of water.

A further object of the invention is to furnish an air craft with a fire extinguisher that will permit the operator of the machine extinguishing a fire'that might occur uponthe air craft or in the vicinity of the same.

A still further bject of the invention is to provide an air 0 aft with floats for maintaining the same u on a body of water and with a propeller for moving the air craft to shore after having landed in a body of water.-

,These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed. 4

Reference will 'now be had to the drawing, wherein I Figure 1 is a perspective view of a biplane constructed inaccordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the same, partly broken away and partly in section, Fig-.3 is a bottom plan of a portion of the bi-plane, Fig, 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the air craft, showing a water propeller, and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan of the same.

In the accompanying drawings there .is illustrated a bi-plane of the ordinary type, the bi-plane having the longitudinal rudder frames 1 thereof connected by straps 2 beneath the lower plane of the machine, and suitably connected to said straps, as at 4 are collapsed flexible bags or receptacles 6, which abut against each other and which when inflated constitute floats capable of sustaining the machine upon the surface of United States of America,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 1 119 27, 1911, Application filed August 13, 1910. Serial No. 577,050. i

Said bags or receptacles '6 constitute floats and of a combined width substantially equal to the distance between the longitudinal rudder frames 1.

The frames 1 support the usual foot-rest 7 and this rest'is provided with straps 8 snnilar to the straps 2, to which is connected a large bag or receptacle 9 adapted to be inflated to constitutea float cooperating with the floats beneath the bottom plane 3 of the machine. J

The bags or receptacles 6 and 9 are connected by branch? tubes or hose 10 to a pipe 11 in communication with a tank or resers voir 12, said tankbeing located in the rear of the drivers seat 13 of the machine. The tank 12 is adapted to contain carbon-dioxid or any suitable gas or gas producing substances or chemicals, the air or gas being retained under pressure, and the pipe 11 is provided with a valve 14 convenient to" the operators seat 13, whereby the valve How he opened and the contents of the tank or reservoir 12 admitted to the bags or receptacles 6 and 9.

It is preferable to store carbon-dioxid (C0,) or other fire extinguishing gases in the tank or reservoir 12, whereby the tubes 10 can be detached from the floats and the carbon-dioxid or other gas used for extinguishing fire asmight occur by a leakage in -a body of water.

the gasolenetank, pipes or other parts of vent the craft from sinking in the body of water and becoming a total loss.- When an aviator discovers that he must alight upon a body of water, it is only necessary for him to open the valve 14-to inflate the floats 6 and 9, and these floats are of a sufficient sizeto supportthe machine upon the surface of the body of water. 7 y

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings I have illustrated the air craft as provided with a water propeller, the propeller being designated 20 and mounted upon the end of a shaft 21, journaled in bearings 22 carried by frames 23 located at the base of the air craft.

The shaft 21 is provided with a sprocket wheel 24 and this wheel is driven by was 25 passing over a sprocket wheel 26 mounted paddles or blades can be permanently or detank or reservoir I reserve the right to uti tachably connected.to-thefwheels and so arranged as to materially assist ,the water and.

air propellers. Furthermore, in lieu of the lize at any desired time the-exhaust from the gasolene engine for inflating the floats.

v rst or genus of which consists in the broad idea of providingan aeroplane with-floats so arranged as to be inflated in caseof-accident, and

with a water propeller for moving the air craftupon-a body of'w'ater. a

'le I have heremflllusti'ated and described the means which I prefer for carrying out my invention, it is obvious-that other and equivalent means'can be employed for that purpose, and-I'therefore' do not limit 1 the scope of my invention further than as WhatI claimis: v,

1-. Inan air craft, a b0dy-portion, a pair.

defined'in the claims hereto appended.

ofiinflatable bags arranged at thebottomof sa d body and 'constituting'wheninflated a pair of floats in abutting engagement, a res- Man variations may be made in the details 0 construction without departing from the spirit of my invention, the

ervoir carried by the body and in communication with said floats, adapted to sup 1y a fluid thereto thereby inflating the. oats, means for controlling the inflation of said floats, straps for securing thefloats to said adapted when inflated to constitute a float, said float of the same width as said body, and means for establishing communication between the float attached to the foot rest and said-reservoir whereby a fluid for inflating the float can be supplied thereto.

2. In an air craft, a body portion, a pair of inflatable bags arranged at thebottom'of said body and constituting when inflated a pair of floats in abutting engagement, a reservoir carried by the body and in communication with said floats adapted to supply a fluid thereto thereby inflating the floats, means for controlling the inflation of said floats, straps for securing the floats to said body, the combined width of said floats being substantially equal to that of the width of. said body, a foot rest supported by the body and dlsposed at an inclination, an inbody, a foot rest supported by the body and disposed at-an inclination, an inflatable bag secured to thebottomof the foot rest and flatable bag secured to the bottom of the foot rest and adapted when inflated to constitute a float, said float of thesame width as said body, and means for establishing communication between the float attached to the foot inflating the float can be su plied thereto.

In testimony whereofI a my signature in the presence of'twowitnesses.

JOHN J. RECTENWALD. Witnesses! a I J KARL H. BUTLER,

JOHN L. STEPHANY.

- rest and said reservoir whereby a fluid for i 

